Chad Hugo, a member of the renowned production duo The Neptunes, has filed a lawsuit against his longtime collaborator Pharrell Williams, claiming he is owed $1 million in unpaid royalties. The lawsuit, submitted on October 6, 2023, alleges a “systematic denial” of Hugo’s rights as a partner in both The Neptunes and their band N.E.R.D., particularly concerning the duo’s 2017 album, No One Ever Really Dies.
Hugo’s legal representation, attorney Brent J. Lehman, asserts that Williams has engaged in self-dealing and concealed important information from Hugo. The lawsuit further claims that Williams has diverted revenues that should rightfully belong to Hugo. “Such willful, fraudulent, and malicious conduct warrants the imposition of punitive damages,” Lehman stated in the documents, as reported by Billboard.
This is not the first legal conflict between the two artists. In 2024, Hugo initiated a prior lawsuit, alleging that Williams attempted to gain sole control over the trademarks associated with their work as The Neptunes. This included the unauthorized registration of three trademarks without Hugo’s involvement, which the lawsuit claims violated their longstanding agreement to share all profits and rights equally.
As The Neptunes, Hugo and Williams are credited with producing some of the most significant hits of the 2000s. Their collaboration includes chart-toppers such as Snoop Dogg’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl,” and Justin Timberlake’s “Rock Your Body.” The duo last worked together in 2022, the same year they were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Following the initial lawsuit in 2024, Williams disclosed in an interview that he and Hugo were no longer on speaking terms. According to the current lawsuit, Williams has continued to withhold accounting and royalties related to their collaborative work, further escalating the dispute.
A representative for Williams did not respond to requests for comment from Rolling Stone at the time of this report. Lehman emphasized the prolonged lack of transparency from Williams and his team, stating, “After years of obfuscation by Pharrell and his team, Mr. Hugo had no choice but to seek substantial compensation and accountability in court. We look forward to presenting the evidence and obtaining the full relief the law provides.”
As the case unfolds, it highlights the complexities and challenges within the world of music partnerships, where creative collaborations can sometimes lead to significant legal disputes.
